Some, like Selectmen Dennis Giombetti who serves on the ad hoc committee, thought that initiative did little to encourage alternative energy as viable resource.

"This article before you will take a big step backward," Giombetti told Town Meeting in May.

Tom Mahoney, chairman of the consequent ad hoc committee, was hopeful that group would go to spring Town Meeting with a draft wind turbine bylaw.

Dawn Harkness, chairwoman of the Greener Framingham Committee and member of the ad hoc committee, said the scuttling of the Staples turbine plans proved "the process of evaluation works."

"Nobody wants to erect these towers where wind doesn't exist," she said.

Cohn, whose proposal was scuttled at Town Meeting, said he does not think Framingham is a proper location for wind turbines.

He said a minimum of a setback of a mile and a half from any home would suffice.

"I've been researching these for nearly a year and no responsible agency would promote these close to homes," Cohn said. "I completely agree that the town should do everything it can to pursue green energy options. However, a wind turbine near a home...is criminally irresponsible."

Some have said Cohn's proposal was too strict and would essentially make it impossible for anyone to build a turbine in town.

O'Neil said he favored the development of wind energy, so long as it benefited the community.

"Don't let them give the impression they were doing it for the good of the community," he said. "They were doing it for the good of Staples."

Dan McDonald can be reached at 508-626-4416 or dmcdonal@cnc.com.

The MetroWest Daily News

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